Alabama

Alabama Coach Nick Saban answers a question during the Nick Saban Radio Show on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, Saturday, January 05, 2013, at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, Fla. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Nick Saban's relationship with Paul Finebaum was forged long before he became the Alabama coach.

It's strong enough that Saban has periodically consulted with the longtime Birmingham sports talk radio host "from a public relations standpoint" in order to "brainstorm the best way to manage and handle certain situations," Saban said Wednesday.

Saban, speaking on the weekly SEC teleconference, opened up about his "tremendous amount of respect" for Finebaum, who recently moved to Charlotte and launched a new version of The Paul Finebaum Show on ESPN's radio networks.

"He's been a good friend for a long time," Saban said. "I think he's a guy that is one of the most acutely aware of guys in college football. I can speak for that in terms of what's happening in college football, what the issues are in college football. Maybe sometimes pretty good opinion on how they should be managed.

"I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Paul ... I think he'll do a fantastic job for the network. If he's happy with the opportunity he has, we're certainly happy for him."

Finebaum's four-hour show, which airs from 1-5 p.m. CST, will be simulcasted on the SEC Network when it launches in August 2014.

Saban said he first got to know Finebaum when he began his tenure at LSU in 2000. He said he doesn't listen to most of the negative or positive comments callers to Finebaum's show make about him or the Alabama football program, and is "not really offended" by them because "it's really hard to please everybody."

Those comments, Saban said, aren't a reflection of Finebaum's "professionalism."

"I've just always had a lot of respect for him," Saban said. "He has created a lot of interest in the state of Alabama in Alabama and Auburn football and SEC football and college football in general. I respect that."